HD Camcorder with mic input

martmart · 23-07-2009, 12:19 PM

Hello, I'm really struggling to find a HD Camcorder (£400 - £550) with a mic input. Ideally, I want SD card memory.

So far I've looked at the Canon HF200 that looks good but is £550 so at the very top of my budget. Is there any others I could consider?

Thanks in advance

*A n d r e w* · 23-07-2009, 12:43 PM

You could check the Sony range (Handycam, HD Camcorder : Sony) and Panasonic make some models capable of taking an accessory mic (http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...sCategory.html). I'm not sure that you'll find what you're looking for for less than the HF200 costs, though.

martmart · 23-07-2009, 2:42 PM

Thanks for the advice. You are correct there are a couple from Sony but more expensive than the HF200. Its a shame that I need a mic input as it adds a couple of hundred pounds to a HD Camcorder!

ronaldkwok · 24-07-2009, 1:03 AM

The Sanyo HD2000 has external mic input. Test it out first to see if you are OK with the Image Stabilisation, it's major weakness.

**senu** · 24-07-2009, 2:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkwok

The Sanyo HD2000 has external mic input. Test it out first to see if you are OK with the Image Stabilisation, it's major weakness.

Is it the only weakness?

ronaldkwok · 24-07-2009, 3:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senu

Is it the only weakness?

IS is the major and most obvious weakness. Others are comparatively slow autofocus and autoexposure, more so in lowlight and in fast changing lighting condition. Also very little manual control once recording has started. Some good points are great videos in good outdoor light, built-in editing functions and useful Xacti Library mode. Others may want to add their findings.

martmart · 24-07-2009, 8:44 AM

Most of my recording will be indoor concerts so that's why I need an external mic input. I was going towards the Canon HF200 but after reading some reviews they state very poor low light? Any others I could look at?

rogs · 24-07-2009, 9:42 AM

What are you hoping to achieve by using a separate mic input?
If you are concerned about low light, I take it you expect to be recording these concerts from some distance away (like, in the audience). If you use a separate mic to just plugin , and still use near the camera location, then I'm afraid you'll probably be a bit disappointed with the results. The problem with recording indoor sound from any distance is that you also record all the room echo as well, and it still tends to sound, well, rubbish!

To make any real difference in sound quality you have to get near to the sound source with your microphone.

Favourite ways to do that are either with radio mics, where you take the mic and it's transmitter near to the source to be recorded, and plug the receiver into your camera mic input, or another (cheaper) option is to use a separate audio recorder (solid state, minidisc,etc) and mix the sound tracks in your video editing software afterwards.
For the second option, you don't need a mic input on your camera .

Unless of course,I've missed the point and you are intending to do something completely different !